Let's Get Aquainted Linky Party

Today I'm linking up with Latoya over at Flying Through First Grade for a fun linky!

1.  What made you decide to become a teacher?

When I started college I planned on doing something with computers, like graphic design.  It wasn't long until that changed.  I decided to become a teacher the day I went to visit my nephew Alec's special day preschool class.  I fell in love with those kids.  I decided I really wanted to do something to help people.  So, I became a teacher :)

2. What has been your most rewarding experience as a teacher?

The first thing that comes to mind is one of my former students.  Let's call him Johnny.  I attribute all my gray hairs to my time spent with that boy.... Johnny came into to my classroom below where he needed to be and I believe that most of the reason for his low performance was due to his behavior.  I knew he had the potential to succeed if I could just save him from himself.  I tried a lot of different ideas to turn things around for Johnny and it was exhausting.  Here's what ended up working: I gave myself a pep talk every morning before school.  It went something like this - 'Smile.  Johnny can never know how much his behavior makes your blood boil.  Love him.  Don't give up on him.  He has to succeed.  Johnny is on the fast track to gangs and jail if he doesn't succeed.  He HAS to succeed. He can do it, you know he can.  Smile. Go.' This little pep talk, silly as it seems, got me through the year.  I also started a small after school group to give a few students extra support.  While the thought of having Johnny in my classroom an extra hour each day was almost more than my sanity could handle, I knew he needed it.  Slowly Johnny began to change.  He started to care.  He wanted to do well and doing a good job became important to him.  He was no longer consumed with wanting to drive his peers crazy or constantly needing to be the center of attention.  Not that he became perfect, but his bad behavior was about 1/3 of what it once was.  Best of all Johnny soared to the top academically.  He became a great reader and was strong in math.  I asked his second grade teacher how he was doing and she said "Johnny? He's one of the highest kids in my class!"  I knew he had come a LONG way, but hearing from another teacher how great he was doing a year later was awesome.  All that hard work had paid off :)

          

3. If you were not a teacher, what would you be?

If I wasn't a teacher I would be an archaeologist, museum curator, or baker!  I love history.  I was very close to getting a minor in History, but I just wanted to finish college and be done with it.  Why baker? Because I love the show 'Cake Boss', and would love to do something creative everyday that makes people happy.

 

Going to Bat for Breast Cancer: Exciting UPDATE!!!

MLB player Dustin Ackley , Kimberly and her husband Ross

So, I have some GREAT news to share!  The few weeks ago I did a post about my dear friend Kimberly who is fighting cancer.  Her father entered her into a MLB contest to be an honorary bat girl on Mothers Day.    Kimberly WON!!!! Kimberly was honored on Sunday at the Seattle Mariners game.  She is so deserving of this honor and I am so happy for her.  Thank you so much to everyone who took a moment to give her a vote.  You can click on the picture below to read more about Kimberly's story and watch her throw out the ceremonial first pitch.

Shopping the Teacher Appreciation Sale

I'm so excited about my purchases from yesterday! I did some clip art shopping and found some great stores to get them from.  I'm always on the lookout for great clip art!  I really had to restrain myself and lots got moved over to my wish list.  I have about 4 projects half way done and so many ideas that I can't wait to get started on.  This new clip art is definitely motivating!!! Here's what I got:

 I love all the different colors.  This set came with flat and 3D!

SO exciting to plan a unit with this clip art!

 

I know exactly what I'm doing with these.  They were a killer deal too!

How did I not find this store before? SUPER cute graphics!

 Honestly, I don't know what exactly I'm doing with these fab graphics, but the second I saw them I knew I HAD to have them!

I am so happy with all of my purchases!  I haven't bought from ANY of these stores before, but will definitely be shopping with them in the future :) If you'd like to see what other teachers have bought or share your purchases, head over to Blog Hoppin' and link up!

On another note, the other day I came across a great resource for everyone!  It's a new facebook page called Teacher Made Freebies.  Head on over to facebook and like their page for updates on great freebies!

https://www.facebook.com/TeacherMadeFreebies

A School Secretary FREEBIE

Do you love your school secretary? I do!  She is the BEST.  A few weeks ago I got an email request from a teacher who's school secretary is having a baby. She asked if I would mind doing a "Our Secretary is Having a Baby" version of my freebie "My Teacher is Having a Baby".  I'm always happy to fulfill requests and luckily she caught me at the perfect time.  I had checked my email first thing in the morning and was able to whip it up and email it to her before my daughter woke up!  So, I thought there must be other people out there who could also use the secretary version and wanted to share it with you. Click on the picture below to get your copy :).

Cat Naps and a SALE!!!

Christine Sedley Photography Click to see more pics!

I am so in love with this happy face!  This is my sweet 3 month old daughter Isla (and for those who are wondering, it's pronounced "eye-luh" :). And she is an EXCELLENT cat napper....ya... It goes something like this: 'Holy cow, she's asleep!  I ever so gently lay her down, then dash through the house like a ninja trying to get things done. But 8 minutes later -  she's awake again.  Then we go through the whole routine again: diaper, eat, play, yada, yada, and she's asleep again! If I'm lucky, she's asleep for 20 minutes.  Thankfully she doesn't sleep like that at night, but I haven't gotten a whole lot done lately(I only do computer stuff when she's sleeping). I have oodles of ideas and Tpt units I can't wait to finish.  I'm getting to write this post because I woke up when my husband left for work and she's still sleeping - fingers are crossed I can finish this before she wakes up for the day! {Update: Nope, it didn't get done. So, I'm finishing up today!}

This week I will be having a Teacher Appreciation Sale in both my stores!  I am having a 20% off sale on everything in my stores, plus you'll get an extra 10% off when you enter the promo codes at checkout.  Don't forget to leave feedback and earn Tpt credits towards your purchases.  Here are a few of my items you may be needing this time of year, click on the pics for more information!

Click on the pic above to go to my Tpt store.

Click on the pic above to go to my TN store.

Going to Bat Against Breast Cancer

The blogging community is an amazing world where we can do so much to help others.  My sweet friend Kimberly "Tess" was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer two years ago at age 30.  She is a wife and mother of two young children.  More than anything, Kimberly is an amazing and wonderful person.  I have known Kimberly my whole life.  I have never heard her say an unkind word about anyone.  She has an angelic spirit that makes me feel lucky just to know her, and I am honored that I can call her my friend.  Kimberly has been nominated for MLB's Honorary Bat Girl Contest.  Please help me in supporting Kimberly "Tess" by voting for her to be honored on the field at one of MLB's Mother's Day celebrations.  You can read more about Kimberly's story and vote for her by clicking on the picture below. 

Thank You!!!

How Do I Love Thee New Printer? Let Me Count the Ways....

I am one of those people who will wait for something to totally kick the can before buying a new one.  Then after I get the "new", I can't believe I waited to so long!!!  I should have gotten a new printer a LONG time ago.  My old printer was an HP print-scan-copier.  I was happy with it for maybe the first year and then it slowly started to make my printing life miserable.  At the end I had to hand feed every sheet of paper, and give it several tries before it actually went through the printer.  It also used an unfathomable amount of ink, pricey ink I might add.  So it was a happy day for me when it just completely stopped working all together.  I asked a friend who is just as obsessed with Tpt what printer she recommended and she steered me towards the Epson WF-3520.  I do A LOT of printing from home because our district doesn't have color printers.  We don't even have our own printer in our classroom, but we do get to share a staff printer - but every time I print I have to cross my fingers it actually makes it to the printer.  It's so sad when I get to the lounge and nothing printed... Anyways, back to my fab NEW printer!  I love it. It has super fast printing(I forgot that it's not normal for 1 page to take 5 minutes to print), wireless printing, I can print from my iPhone, 4 different colored ink cartridges so I only have to replace what is empty, copies, scans, fax, and clear crisp printing!  It was very easy to set up too.

 
The first true test of this printer was last week when I was making baby shower invitations for my niece Jenna.  I got the font and graphics FREE and the design was Pinterest inspired.  You can find the links on my Pinterest board 'Fonts and Graphics'.  The printer worked like a champ.  I was worried about printing the invites because of their unique size but the printer had no problems.  I am so, so happy with this printer.  If you are itching for a new printer check out the Epson WF-3520, I got mine on Amazon.